About PCYC
PCYC NSW is a registered charity, who's mission is to empower young people to reach their potential through Police and community partnerships.
With over 66 clubs across the state, PCYC provides quality activities and programs in a safe, fun and friendly environment.
Our aim is to engage with, and positively influence our 70,000+ youth members through mainstream sport, recreation, education, leadership and cultural programs.
In addition, we work with at-risk youth to break the cycle of disadvantage through crime prevention, vocational education, youth capacity building and social responsibility programs to change the life outcomes of over 7500 youth per year.
Patrons
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC
Governor of New South Wales
“It is difficult to think of an organisation that has been so continuously involved in the lives of young people in this State than PCYC NSW. From sporting activities to youth work and mentoring, PCYC NSW is at the frontline of child and youth issues in New South Wales, and it has been for over eight decades”.
PCYC is proud to have Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC,
Governor of New South Wales, and her husband, Dennis Wilson, as patrons.
PCYC Executive Team
Ben Hobby
Chief Executive Officer
Ben is a seasoned, respected business and community leader, with 27 years of successful experience leading diverse teams within public and private sectors, across geographic regions comprising the UK, US, Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Ben’s recent roles included Global Vice President of Objective Corporation and CEO of Itree, where he led organisations devoted to delivering improved community outcomes through enhanced regulatory technology for Federal, State and Territory Governments. Ben has a strong focus on propelling both commercial and for-purpose outcomes, his team being awarded the RegTech Social Impact of the Year and the RegTech Excellence in Government winner in recent years.
Ben has a strong passion for giving back to community, being involved in a lifetime of senior volunteering roles for multiple community organisations comprising youth, sports and mentoring programs. Ben values integrity, commitment and respectful citizenship as the foundation for fostering inclusive, trusted community and government relationships.
Karen Maissin
Executive Officer
“The difference PCYC makes to the youth of NSW, through programs and activities is amazing. I genuinely get up everyday and love coming to work!”
Karen commenced at PCYC in July 2018. She has over 20 years of senior management support in administration and as an executive assistant with experience in FMCG, Manufacturing, Corporate and Not for Profit.
Craig Becroft
Chief Financial Officer
“Leveraging commercial know how and good governance to drive financial sustainability is critical to the continued delivery of PCYC's mission.”
Craig joined us in May 2020. He is a customer-focused finance executive with over 25 years of experience in leadership and financial stewardship. He has held a number of senior roles in State and Local Government, the media industry, and high-profile consumer goods businesses.
Simon Gerathy
General Manager Brand and Philanthropy
“Collaboration is the key to innovative community solutions. It takes a village to raise a child.”
Simon joined us in March 2020. He is a strategic leader with a track record of growing brands and building businesses in commercial and for purpose organisations in Australia and New Zealand. He has also worked in international development and sport. More recently he has led fundraising and business development teams in charities working with children, at risk youth and people living with disability.
Kellie Lavercombe
General Manager People and Culture
“Enabling an authentic people focussed workplace and culture to ensure our teams model the best behaviours and values to the youth and communities we serve.”
Kellie joined PCYC NSW in June 2020. She is a strategic Human Resources leader with extensive experience in people and talent functions and change management. Her career has spanned multi-national commercial organisations within retail, healthcare, quick food service and the NFP sector.
Kellie is passionate about leading the delivery of best practice people processes to ensure governance; driving culture and engagement; organisational design and enabling learning and talent development opportunities to provide succession pathways and develop current and future leaders.
She has a strong passion for capability development, to design and implement best practice solutions supporting people, engagement and business strategy.
Scott Murray
General Manager Club Operations
“Through our amazing and talented team in conjunction with Police, our clubs deliver fun, safe and affordable activities for our members and the community.”
Scott commenced at PCYC NSW in February 2017. Scott is an authentic leader with 10+ years as a Senior Executive in the FMCG and retail sectors. He continually looks for unconventional ways to improve the business and is a leader who builds trust by delivering on his commitments and directions of the companies.
David Parrish
Head of Audit, Risk and Compliance
David brings extensive experience in risk, governance, compliance, audit and operational management across multiple industries including Asset Management, Not for Profit, Security and Transport Logistics. Skilled in operational and risk management, strategic planning and execution, regulatory compliance, quality management and continuous improvement. David has excellent written and oral communication skills and possesses the ability to build relationships across all level of the organisation.
David holds a Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate of Business, Advanced Diploma in Risk, Governance & Compliance an International Certificate of Risk Management and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Business Law.
Justine Russell
General Manager Programs & Social Impact
Justine joined PCYC in 2012 and has extensive experience in program design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation. In her role she is focused on the delivery of evidence-based programs that meet the individual needs of young people and their communities.
With Justine the PCYC Youth Resilience and Social Impact team works with young people to build youth agency and deliver programs aimed at increasing the tools and strategies available to young people to navigate life’s challenges.
"PCYC Programs provide life changing opportunities that allow young people to thrive and build positive futures."
Lester Stump
General Manager Strategic Development, Facilities & Assets
“Delivering a capital works program to contemporise our facilities into the 21st century. Finding new opportunities to service youth and their communities throughout NSW.”
Lester commenced at PCYC NSW in October 2014. Lester has over 30 years’ experience in capital works delivery, highlighted during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and 8 years capital works upgrades to NSW Sport and Recreation Facilities.
Board Members
Nicole Sorbara
Chair
Nicole joined Macquarie’s Finance team in 1996 after training as a Chartered Accountant. She has more than 30 years’ experience in accounting and financial services. Nicole has had many different opportunities at Macquarie, having worked in Macquarie Capital, the global Head of Human Resources, and ran the Corporate Services Group.
In 2013 she became the first Chief Operating Officer and joined the Executive Committee.
As COO, Nicole heads the Corporate Operations Group which comprises over 4,500 people across 23 countries who have specialist expertise across digital transformation and data, technology, operations, human resources, business services, strategy, operational risk, financial management and philanthropy.
Directors
Gavin Wood APM
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood APM joined the NSW Police Force in 1989 and is a member of the Senior Executive. His career to date has seen him make significant contributions to crime prevention, community engagement and, criminal investigation in both local and specialist areas across the state from the Sydney CBD to regional and rural NSW. In January 2022, Assistant Commissioner Wood was appointed as the Commander of the Capability, Performance and Youth Command. He is the current NSW Police Force Chief Risk Officer and Corporate Sponsor for Youth and Crime Prevention. Assistant Commissioner Wood is the recipient of several awards and accolades, including the Australian Police Medal in 2020, the New South Wales Police Medal, National Medal, the National Police Service Medal and, the prestigious Robert Faulkner Memorial Award.
Claire Beattie
Director
Claire is a proud Yorta Yorta woman and is a prominent, senior NSW Public Servant with over 22 years of experience in the machinery of government. Claire is currently the Executive Director for Asset Activations in School Infrastructure NSW, Department of Education and has held a wide range of roles throughout her career including: Executive Director Strategy, Governance and Digital at NSW Treasury; Executive Director Partnerships, School Infrastructure NSW; Director for Strategic Communication Department of Education and led the strategic, operational communications for state wide traffic operations during major incidents in Transport NSW, Transport Management Centre Operations Room. This involved leading operational responses to incidents such as the Sydney Siege. Claire is also a Board Member of Women and Girl’s Emergency Centre Redfern and Fire to Flourish- Monash University. She is also a strategic advisor to Women on Boards regarding increasing cultural and gender diversity on boards.
James Dack, OAM
Director
James began his career at St Vincent‘s Hospital, as a porter and after five years of hard work he was promoted to the position of payroll manager responsible for 2500 staff. He was approached by the industrial relations division of the Department of health to run the whole of the New South Wales public hospital payroll system. When James left the Department of health, he became a founding partner and one of the most successful Real Estate companies in Australia where he is still recognised as one of the most successful people in the real estate industry. In 2014 he started Sunshine Group investments where he is currently the managing director. He is on the board of directors of PCYC NSW and was recently awarded an OAM on the Kings Birthday for services to youth.
Nicholas Dan
Director
“I am pleased to be involved with PCYC because of its ability to change the lives of young people.”
Nick is a Solicitor in Newcastle. He operates as a sole practitioner following many years being a partner in a general practice. Nick holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees from University of NSW.
Erin Flaherty
Director
Erin’s business career has spanned 30 years in the private & government sectors in law, finance, funds management and transport. She has a Masters of Law from the University of Sydney and undergraduate degrees from the University of Western Australia. She was previously a Guardian of the Commonwealth Future Fund and is currently a Non-Executive director of a number of infrastructure companies. Erin is the Chairman of National Intermodal, the Commonwealth entity delivering the intermodal rail terminals for Inland Rail. She was formerly a Trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground and continues in this role as a director of Venues NSW. She is a member of the Board of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and is passionate about music and young people.
Dot Hennessy OAM
Director
“I am a proud Rotarian of 24 years. I want to proactively continue the purpose on which Rotary established PCYC and I am passionate about assisting youth in providing accurate options to assist with their careers, training and employment.”
Dot is a vocational education trainer/facilitator of more than 40 years’ experience with a major training focus on business skills, the waste industry and support services.
Michael Hope
Director
“I have strong memories of my time as a member of PCYC Young in the mid 70’s, and the dramatic effect it had on my life. I’d like to see all our young people given the same opportunity.”
Country boy Michael studied at University of Sydney and graduated with a pharmacy degree in 1984 going on to establish and run the Hopes Pharmacy group. He still works as a registered pharmacist.
In 1994 he created Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley which has grown to include a winery, distillery, brewery and cattle operation alongside a large concert Amphitheatre that has hosted artists such as the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen.
Peter Kirkwood OAM
Director
“PCYC, over the past 80 years, can take credit for thousands of young people becoming highly respected citizens; it’s an honour and privilege to be involved.”
Peter is the director of a high technology electronics company. He has enjoyed a long association with PCYC through boxing, karate & basketball. After joining Rotary in 1999, he initiated a Rotary project, CommUnity Connections, to focus on the needs of youth and people with disability in the Sydney upper north shore region.
Stuart O’Brien
Director
Stuart is regarded as one of the country’s leading brand consultants, having played a vital role in the creation and development of some of Australia’s biggest brand projects over the past 25 years. Stuart’s previous role as CEO of Ogilvy and Mather in Australia, as well as over 12 years as partner of Moon Communications, has placed him at the forefront of this industry.
Stuart founded Houston in 2011 with a focus on high-end brand strategy, design and consultation. Houston has quickly grown to be one of the country’s most prominent agencies being appointed as the lead global brand and design agency for Qantas, Jetstar, Ampol, NRMA, Lendlease, Macquarie Group and a range of other high-profile projects.
Houston also host a number of key non-for-profit organisations such as Luke Batty Foundation, Black Dog Institute, Princes Trust Australia & Wayside Chapel. Stuart has always been committed to the support and promotion of the arts, since 2018 – 2022 he has sat on the board of Belvoir Street Theatre.
Having led many major projects, Stuart has first hand experience in creating strong brands that transform business, as well as driving complex projects through the organisations.
Ben Shields
Director
“I am a strong believer in PCYC’s ability to empower young people to reach their potential and in the power that has to enhance our society”
Ben is managing partner of Alchemy Growth Partners, a boutique advisory firm. He has 25 years of corporate strategy, strategy execution and transformation experience. Ben has worked throughout Asia, the US and the UK. Ben was a partner at Deloitte Consulting for 16 years and leader of the Australian Growth Practice and of Deloitte Ventures. Ben holds a bachelor of business from Edith Cowan University and masters of business administration (international finance) from the University of Western Australia.
Annual Reports
In the words of our patron, Her Excellency, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC Governor of New South Wales; “It is difficult to think of an organization that has been so continuously involved in the lives of young people in this State than PCYC NSW. From sporting activities to youth work and mentoring, PCYC NSW is at the frontline of child and youth issues in New South Wales, and it has been for over eight decades”.
In providing young people opportunities to flourish, PCYC and NSW Police have significantly reduced youth crime and anti-social behaviour across the state, building resilience, encouraging positive life choices, and giving them a place to belong.
2022 Annual Impact Statement Report
2021 Financial Report
Read our Annual Reports for the last 5 years
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
2021 |
2022
PCYC Strategy
We are proud and pleased to present the PCYC NSW 2022-2027 Better Together Strategy. Following the successful achievement of the 2017-2022 Empowering Youth Strategy we are excited to continue to grow and extend our Life Changing impact on the youth and community of NSW. Download the PCYC NSW 2022-2027 Better Together Strategy here.
